Casting apparatus



Aug. 4, 1 931. 'r. B. BARR I 4 CASTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. :s. 1929ZSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Aug. 4, 1931.- T. B. BARR CASTING APPARATUSFiled Aug. 3, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITEDSTATES THOMAS I B. BARR, OF HYDE, PENNSYLVANIA CASTING APPARATUSApplication filed August 3, 1929. Serial No. 383,294.

This invention relates generally to casting apparatus and moreparticularly to such apparatus for casting ingots of steel or othermetal.

'5 It is usual practice to cast steel ingots in vertical molds which mayor may not be provided with hot tops having an opening through which thesteel is introduced into the molds. Where hot tops have been employed,they have been made of refractory material and, except for the pouringopening, have been made solid. The hot tops are used forathe purpose ofdecreasing pipes and shrinks in the ingots. The outside of the ingotscools more rapidly than the interior. The hot tops tend to keep themetal in a liquid condition so that after the outsides of the ingotshave solidified, but while the interiors are in a liquid state, themetal being poured is maintained in a liquid condition and is suppliedto the interior of the ingots to counteract the tendency to form pipesand shrinks. n the use of vertical ingot molds, the metal which ispoured into the top of. the mold falls with great force against thebottom of the mold and splashes against its sides. The particlescontacting with the sides of the mold solidify rapidly and even so whenthe mold is completely filled, these particles remain solid and causehard spots or slivers on the outer surface of the ingot.

In addition to forming cold spots on the outer surface of the ingots,the stream of as metal poured into vertical molds causes a churning ofthe metal, setting up eddy currents which trap gases within the liquidmetal. As the metal solidifies, these gases remain trapped, forming blowholes in the ingot.

In accordance with-the present invention, the ingot mold is inclined atan acute angle to a horizontal plane with its open end above its closedend. The metal flows quietly into the mold Without splashing and withoutthe formation of cold spots and slivers on the 4 in 0t The churningaction which would take place if the molds were in a vertical positionis eliminated and the inclusion of gases which would form pockets in theingot is greatly decreased. The inclined mold is provided with a hot topwhich, preferably, is chambered so that a heating medium may beintroduced into the chambers in order to maintain the hot top at atemperature which eliminates practically all shrinks and pipes. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention, the inclined molds are fed from acommon distributing pot through runners which connect the pot and molds.The inclined molds and the runners extend radially from the distributingpot, and the distributmg pot and the runners are arranged within thechamber of the hot top so that they are maintained at a high temperatureduring the casting operation. The chamber of the hot top may be heatedby any desired medium, such as by the introduction of a gaseous heatingmedium therein or by filling the chamber withcharcoal or other fuel.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several preferredembodiments of the inventi0n- Figure l is a plan view of one embodiment;Figure 2 is a central, \vertical sectional View of the embodiment shownin Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial Vertical section of another embodiment;

Figure 4 is a partial transverse vertical section of still anotherembodiment; and

Figure 5 is a partial longitudinal section on the line V-V of Figure 4.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, there is shown arefractory distributing pot 2 mounted on a refractory base 3. Runners 4of refractory material connect the distributing pot 2 withradiallyextending inclined ingot molds 5. The ingot molds are made of cast ironand, if desired, may be lined with a refractory coating (not shown).Both the runners at and the molds 5 extend radially from thedistributing pot 2 and are inclined outwardly and downwardly so that themetal flows from the pot 9 through the runners into the molds.

Surrounding the pot 2 and the runners 4 is a hot top indicatedgenerally'by the reference numeral 6. The hot top has an outer 10 casing7 of cast iron and an inner lining 8 ill rounds the disiributing pot andthe. runners.

An opening 10 is provided in thehot top through which a heating medium,such asgas or oil, may be introduced into the chamber 9 by a burner 11.In the drawings, only one opening 10 is provided and only one burner isemployed. The number of openings and burners may be varied according tothe particular circumstances. The hot top is provided with a cover 12 offire brick or other refractory maierial.

Vent pipes 15 are arranged within the hot top and communicate at theirupper ends with the atmosphere through an opening 16 provided in thecover 12 and at their lower ends communicate with the interior of therunners 4 through an opening 17.

In casting ingots in the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, the metalis poured from a ladle into the distributing pot 2 and flows through therunners 4 into the molds 5. The metal flows to the lower ends of themolds and forces the gases to the tops of the molds and causes them tobe forced out through the vent pipes 15, During the casting operation, aheating medium is supplied to the interior of the hot top by means ofthe/burner 11. Instead" of introducing a gaseous medium into the chamberof the hot top, a fuel such as coke or coal may be placed in the chamber9. The heat of the metal causes the fuel to ignite and the fuel in turnmaintains the distributing pot 2 and the runners 4 at a temperaturewhich substantially eliminates all shrinks and pipes. If a solid fuel,such as coke or coal, is supplied to the chambers 9, it is not necessaryto provide the hot tops with covers.

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2,except that the molds 5a are arranged vertically instead of inclined tothe horizontal. Corresponding parts in this figure are indicated by thesame reference numerals with an a atlixed thereto.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the molds 5?) insteadof extending radially as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are arranged in aline. A single hot top, indicated generally by the reference numeral6?), is used for all of the molds and the hot top is heated by a burner11?). The metal. is poured into the molds 5?) through individual pouringopenings 20 in the hot tops 6?). The hot top has a cover 21 of cast ironlined with a refractory lining 12?). In this embodiment, as well as inthe embodiment shown in Figure 3, a solid fuel may be used to heat thehot tops in place of the gaseous heating medium.

I have illustrated and described several preferred embodiments of theinvention. is to be understood, however, that the invention may beotherwiseiemhodied within the scope of the followinggglaims.

I claim: j

1. Casting apparatus comprising a plurality of molds, a chambered hottop there: for, a distributing'pot. within the hot top, andrunnersconnecting the pot and molds.

2. Casting apparatus comprising a distributing pot, a plurality ofinclined molds, runners connecting the pot and molds, and a chamberedhot"topisurrounding the distributing pot and runners, the'hot top havingan openinggthrough which a heating medium may be introduced into thechamber thereof. T v

3. Casting ,apparatus'jcomprising a. distributing pot, a IflmiaIity ofinclined radially extending molds, runners connecting the pot and molds.a chambered hot top surrounding the 'pot and" unners, the hot top havingan opening tl ifoughwhich a heating medium maybe introduced into thechamber thereof, and ventpipescommunicating with the molds. y

41-. Casting apparatus comprising a distributing pot, a plurality ofinclined radially extending molds having their open ends above theirclosed ends, inclined radially extending runners connecting thedistributing pot and theopen ends of the molds, a chambered liot topsurrounding the pot and runners, the hot top having an opening throughwhich a heating medium may be introduced into the chamber thereof, and

vent pipes within the chamber and in com munication with the atmosphereand said runners. v

5. Casting apparatus comprising a refractory distributing pot, aplurality of inclined radially extending cast iron molds having theiropen ends abovetheir closed ends, inclined radially extendingnon-metallic refractory runners-" connecting the distribut ing pot andthe open ends'of the molds, a chambered hot top surrounding the pot andrunners, said hot top having an outer casing of cast iron and anon-metallic refractory lining, the hot top having an opening throughwhich a heating medium may be introduced into the chamber thereof, andnon-metallic refractory vent pipes within the chamber of the hot top andin communication with the atmosphere and said runners.

6. Casting apparatus comprising a plurality of molds, a chambered hot.top therefor, a distributing pot within the hot top, and runnersconnecting the pot and molds, the hot top having an opening throughwhich a heating medium may be introduced into the chamber thereof. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS B. BARR.

